CHAPTER XX.

WHO THE STRANGER IS.—A VISIT FROM HIM, WITH A PROMISE OF MUCH PLEASURE FROM HIS ACQUAINTANCE.

One touch of nature makes the whole world of kin.

SHAKSPEARE.-Troilus & Cressida.

Are not these woods

More free from peril than the envious court?

As You Like It.

THE account given me by the landlord of my new acquaintance pleased me so much, that I wished to see him again, and had planned going up to Binfield the next day,-when, as much to my pleasure as my surprise, I received a visit from him in person. He was ushered into my room by Gayford, and frankly said that as I seemed to do justice to the attractions of the forest, and was a stranger to it, he would, if I pleased, be my guide to some of its most beautiful spots; "though," added he, " you are here almost in the very centre of them, and your landlord, from being a yeoman-pricker, knows every inch of them as well or better than I."

Gayford bowed, not ill-pleased at the compliment. I thanked Mr. Manners most heartily for his kind

ness, which I gladly accepted; and as we drove out of the town in a handsome park chair, he said there was something so much of kin to his own mind in the taste I had shewn for the natural pleasures of sentiment, inspired by such scenes as he had found me in, that he had resolved to seek me out.

"For," added he, "among the millions of fellowcreatures, as to flesh and blood, that there are in the world, there are so few who have fellowship with us as to mind, that if I meet with one once in ten years, I think it a God-send, and a duty to cultivate it."

I was flattered enough with such a speech, but could not help observing-" I hope it is not so difficult for kindred minds to find one another out, as to make a case once in ten years a God-send."

"That is a very comfortable sentiment," replied he, “for a young man of your years and seeming complexion. When you are of my age you will, perhaps, change your note. Have you really even now found so many minds congenial with your own, as to doubt my position? Have you made and preserved so many friendships? have you never been disappointed in your affections, and never dropt, or been dropt by, those you loved, and who seemed to love you ?"

The question was a home one, and somewhat alarmed me, for I found I could not successfully reply to it. All that had passed at Sedbergh, compared with Oxford, and the last scenes at Foljambe Park, shot across me in no pleasing colours,

and I gave a sigh, which did not escape my compa.

nion.

"Hah!" said he, " I fear I have touched a string which vibrates too strongly, and you may be already of my opinion, though unwilling to own it. If so, I ask pardon.—But I really must tell you," continued he after a long pause, "that I had another reason for seeking you out, besides the seeming congeniality of our tastes; though that alone, for the reason I have given, would have prompted me to do so. You told me your name was Clifford, or, as you repeated it, De Clifford. Mine, as the landlord informed me he had acquainted you, is Manners. What if it should turn out that we are, though distantly, connected; or as, if I were a Scotchman, perhaps I ought to say, nearly related?"

I was astounded at this, and began to think it might proceed from some of the eccentricities which Gayford had almost asserted belonged to him. He went on, however.

"You informed me you were a De Clifford, and of Yorkshire; perhaps one of the Cliffords of Bardolfe Castle in that county ?"

"Of Bardolfe parish," said I, "but not the Castle; that was long ago sold."

"I have heard so," he replied, " from a tradition in my family, which also recorded the reason of it, and this I suppose you know."

I bowed assent, saying, I had heard something, though very imperfectly, from my mother, of an alliance with a noble family, in consequence of my

great-grandfather's sister intermarrying with it, and that the castle had been sold, in order to raise her portion; but the name even was so indistinctly known among us, that it had long ceased to be mentioned.

"Well, then," replied he, "I can inform you that the name was my own; and that your great-grandfather's sister did us the honour of espousing my grandfather, in the days of Charles II. We are, therefore, you see, close cousins."

I again bowed, lost in wonder at the strangeness of the discovery, but, upon the whole, far from displeased. In fact, I began to call to mind that my mother had formerly said the name sounded like Manhurst, or Manvers; but this was several years ago, and even she had lost her interest about it, while it was certainly not revived by my father, in whom it had never excited any.

Mr. Manners then further informed me that his ancestress's portion was £10,000, a great sum in those days, and asked me many questions about the castle, which I answered with a pleasure in descanting upon it, which also pleased him.

"I see," said he, "that my first opinion of you will be more and more confirmed, and I shall hail our rencontre as it deserves, for giving me such a companion."

He then proceeded, as we drove through the forest, to point out the thousand beauties of the sylvan scenery which met the eye, particularly the delightful seat of Bill Hill, and over the bridge of the

pretty Loddon, whose transformation from a nymph into a river had so pleased the poetic feelings of honest Gayford.

Suddenly turning, we then made a detour by the romantic village of Hurst, and onwards till we came once more into Asher's Wood, though in a very different part of it, presenting a very different scene. For suddenly we found ourselves in the middle of an extensive warren, where, seemingly, ten thousand of its furry inhabitants, denizens of the place, wantoned at large throughout what seemed their own domain, or sat at the doors of their snug habitations, watching the approach of strangers.

Several wild paths traversed the place, so often trod by passengers that our advance did not occasion much alarm. Still the sentinels eyed us, as if to ascertain our intentions; and this and the umbrageous shelter around us, made a pleasing impression upon us both.

What was still more interesting in such a wilderness (for so it appeared), I saw what most completely realized the pretty image in the Allegro—

"From betwixt two aged oaks

Hard by, a cottage chimney smokes ;"

and smoke it did, wreath after wreath, notwithstanding it was but little past midsummer. In fact, the warrener (for it was his) and his wife were preparing dinner for themselves and half-a-dozen boys and girls, their happy family.

66

ners,

I must introduce you to him," said Mr. Man"for we are sworn friends, and he thinks me,

I